When Universal Studios Great Britain opens its gates in 2031, the list of expected attractions and lands already reads like a studio highlight reel—Harry Potter, Jurassic World, Paddington, James Bond. One name that hasn’t made it into the rumor mill? Jaws.
Steven Spielberg’s shark thriller turns 50 this year. Half a century after it changed summer movies forever, the 1975 film is still synonymous with tension, theme music (thanks to John Williams), and a giant animatronic shark. It’s also one of Universal Studios’ oldest theme park attractions—although it hasn’t had a full-fledged ride in the U.S. since 2012.
The original Jaws ride at Universal Studios Florida was a chaotic boat tour along Amity Island’s harbor. Exploding gas docks, submerged tour boats, and a mechanical great white shark lunging out of bloodied water made it a rite of passage for parkgoers.
It ran for over 20 years before being replaced by the Diagon Alley expansion of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in 2012.
But the ride still exists—sort of. A condensed version remains part of the Studio Tour in Hollywood (which the original ride was an expansion of), and Universal Studios Japan continues to run the full Amity Island experience, complete with the skipper and the radio call gone horribly wrong. So is it finally time to bring Jaws to the UK?
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A reimagined Jaws ride wouldn’t just serve nostalgia—it could be a signature attraction, and a rare chance to modernize a bona fide classic. The original version had its charm, but it could use some much-needed updates: sharper animatronics, tighter pacing, maybe even a new storyline with, of course, plenty of callbacks to the original 1975 film.
Whether it’s a faithful rebuild or something new entirely, Universal now has the perfect chance to put Jaws back in the water—and in front of a new generation of fans.
How do you feel about seeing a Jaws ride at the new Universal Studios in Great Britain? Do you think the iconic shark deserves a major comeback? Let us know in the comments down below!
